Many of us dream of travelling across Europe - visiting its glamorous cities, eating delicious food and staying in elegant hotels.

But few have ever considered scrounging our way across every capital on the continent, without a euro in our pockets or a credit card to our name.

Self-confessed former slacker Kris Mole, 24, from Southwick, has spent most of his adult life drinking, gambling and avoiding responsibility.

But a month ago, in response to his aunt's battle with cancer, he left his home and his wayward life behind.

He is now on his way to Rome, having managed a third of his quest to visit every capital in Europe through blagging alone.

He has so far managed to cross Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Slovenia on a budget of absolutely nothing.

Kris, of Cromleigh Way in Southwick, said: "It's been harder than most people can imagine but also so worthwhile.

"I've met amazing people in every single place I've been and they've all taught me things that will help me through my life.

"There have been so many highs and it is hard to explain how amazing it can feel when someone gives you a loaf of bread, for example, when you haven't eaten for 36 hours."

To achieve his goal Kris has gone for days without food, begged and slept on strangers' sofas using a network of good samaritans on the web to find shelter.

In the process he has attracted a legion of admirers and so far raised more than £900 for Cancer Research.

Kris said his Great Euro Freebie Challenge was inspired by his aunt Susan Proto's battle with the disease.

He said: "She was in hospital with cancer. I had a strong desire to do something to help, even if it was indirectly.

"She had lung cancer and then it spread.

"Unfortunately she lost her fight earlier this month.

"It is what keeps me going through the hard times. I went to see her in hospital the day before I left and she asked me if I was really going to go through with this.

"I told her I was and now I won't break that promise."

Kris has travelled about 1,500 miles, scrounging lifts across Europe, and hopes to be home by March, having visited all 25 capital cities in the EU in less than six months.

As he cannot afford a mobile phone, his family and friends have been keeping up with his adventures through a daily internet blog.

Kris said: "After spending the past four years drinking, gambling and not really having much responsibility, I've decided the time is right to do something a little more worthwhile.

"My family, although they worry, know I'm big enough and definitely ugly enough to handle myself.

"They have no doubt I can get myself through this.

"Whenever I doubt whether or not I'm doing the right thing, whether I should just quit and go home, I think of all the people counting on me and I find the strength to keep going."